On July 31, 2019, Cape Breton University (CBU) and Grenfell Campus, (MUN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see Grenfell Campus partnering with CBU to deliver a provincial version of CBU鈥檚 In.Business: A Mentorship Program for Indigenous Youth. First piloted in Nova Scotia by CBU in 2011, and continuing since Grenfell Campus will now see Newfoundland and Labrador have its own provincial program specifically for Indigenous high school students in their province.
鈥漇tudents from Newfoundland and Labrador began to participate in the In.Business program in 2014 and to date, 25 students and mentors have taken part from Newfoundland and Labrador,鈥澛犅� says Stephen Augustine, Associate Vice-President Indigenous Initiatives and Unama鈥檏i College at Cape Breton University. 鈥淪tudents need support, advice, and experience sharing in order to manage the challenging transition from high school to post-secondary. The In.Business program helps with that.鈥�
The program gives students a feel for university campus life, an idea of how a business education can equip them to be successful in the future and builds meaningful connections with mentors. Practical information is also shared with students around budgeting, financial literacy, time management skills, public speaking skills, research skills and much more.
鈥淢ore than 20% of Grenfell students are Indigenous,鈥� said Jeff Keshen, Grenfell Campus鈥檚 vice-president. 鈥淭he In.Business program is an excellent fit for our campus, and reflects our commitment to pursue meaningful indigenization. 聽By bringing this program to campus, we are enhancing opportunities for Indigenous youth and strengthening our ties to Indigenous communities.鈥�
In.Business links Indigenous youth in grades 10 to 12 with Indigenous business mentors who administer bi-weekly business-based 鈥渃hallenges鈥� that are completed using social media and bring the two groups together twice a year for in-person conferences. In.Business was designed to teach high school students the career opportunities and types of work you can do with a business education, in hopes they will consider studying business at the post-secondary level.